The Impact of COVID on PE Classes

Every parent knows how important it is for kids to get enough physical activity. In our modern world, we spend hours and hours in front of the screen and often don’t move our bodies unless we really have to. But to stay healthy, we have to start making exercise a habit from a young age.

Most kids get at least some exercise during PE class at school. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made it difficult or impossible to continue normal physical education activities in large groups. So what kind of impact has the pandemic had on kids’ physical activities, and on PE classes as a whole?

Expect PE to Look Different in a Post-COVID World 

In the past, PE often involved the use of communal exercise equipment, team sports, and tests of physical fitness. While learning teamwork is important, it’s safe to say that most schools won’t be resuming high contact sports or shared equipment for a while. The COVID-19 pandemic might even change the landscape of PE for good.

Some PE teachers are looking at this as an opportunity to make positive changes. In the past, many kids were leaving school without developing valuable lifetime fitness habits. That might be because many teachers focused on fitness tests, competition, or using special equipment.

With learning shifting online, we can expect the focus and content of PE classes to change. What if, instead of focusing on the overall fitness of students, PE became about helping kids build healthy, lifetime exercise habits? Adapting PE to the online, post-COVID world could allow for more flexible activity assignments that could be done at home or socially distanced at school.

Understand that Kids Might Be More Hesitant in Sports and Activities 

Many kids are feeling very stressed about the pandemic. They’re living in a world that’s been taken over by the virus and they’re feeling scared about the safety and stability of their families. Most kids have been hearing alarming things on the news and from their peers.

Understandably, some kids are feeling just as worried as adults about getting into close contact with others. They might be worried about catching the virus or they might feel uncomfortable about playing sports and participating in PE activities while wearing a mask.

Coaches need to be patient with students right now and put their safety and well-being first. It’s important for kids to feel safe and secure in their athletic environment, which might require more patience and understanding from teachers and coaches. Understanding the psychology involved with sports performance can also be helpful for adults who are trying to guide students during this time.

PE Coaches Might Need to Get Innovative with Activities 

Even distance learning is no excuse to drop PE. Coaches and teachers have been coming up with innovative activities to engage students during virtual classes. It might take more creativity, but many teachers have been able to keep kids moving during the stress and chaos of hybrid and virtual learning.

One school in Sacramento used the approach of having students “play solitaire” with a deck of cards printed with different exercises like crunches and pushups. Other teachers are livestreaming fitness classes for PE or even putting together “traveling gyms.”

There’s no shortage of great ideas for PE teachers who want to keep kids moving, no matter what. That kind of creativity is inspiring students and providing them with a healthy outlet during a stressful period of their lives.

No Contact Games Means Increased Safety

One of the silver linings of COVID-19 has been safety. Students routinely experience traumatic brain injuries during high-contact sports, which can lead to lifelong problems. No-contact games mean that there are far fewer opportunities for injuries like concussions.

The good news is that there are still sports that allow for the benefits of team play without contact. This will help to prevent the spread of the virus and cut down on injuries in children and teens during games.

PE Teachers Are Stepping Up

It’s inspiring to see how PE teachers have stepped up to ensure that their students get the exercise and support they need during the pandemic. With everything changing in their lives, students need to stay active and healthy. We may not know what tomorrow, next week, or next year will bring, but students who keep up with PE will be better equipped to cope with whatever comes next.